Art of preserving and sterilizing eggs.



SAMUEL FRANK HENDERSON, WOODWARDVILLE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNORTO THE YESTER-LAID EGG (30., 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARY Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

LAND.

' AR'1 0F IERESERVING AND STERILIZING EGGS.

1,177,105, Specification of Letters Patent.

No Drawing.

.To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, SAMUEL FRANK HEN'- DERSON, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Woodwardville, in the county of Anne Arundel and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin the Art of Preserving and Sterilizing Eggs, of which the following is a speci-' fication.

' ods heretofore suggested and materials employed have as far as I have been informed, been more or less objectionable, for various reasons. Some of the materials and methods employed affect the taste of the egg, discolor the shell, leave objectionable deposits .on the shells, and in other particulars are highly objectionable.

It has been appreciated heretofore that were it possible to so treat a fresh egg that it could be preserved in its natural condition substantially with a maintained natural color, taste and bulk, it would be a highly desirable and important discovery. I believe I have discovered a method and material for eflecting this desirable result in a satisfactory manner. I

The invention may be stated as compre-.

hending primarily the application of an odorless, colorless and tasteless substance, in the form of a liquid, to the shell of an egg, as distinguished from a waxy or pasty substance whichlatter would leave an objectionable deposit on, the shell.

The invention also comprehendsthe application of a substance to the shell of an Application filed January 21, 1916. Serial No. 73,318.

' dissipated or destroyed when exposed to the atmosphere.

The present invention includes also addng to the egg shell a substance which will in many respects resemble both in effect and in appearance the aforementioned natural bloom.

' The material with which I treat the eggs and which I have discovered can be used .with great success for the purposes above stated, is what is known as liquid petrola tum This substance or material is, ac cording to my best and present information, a mixture of hydro-carbons, chiefly of the methane group, obtained by distilling off the larger part of the lighter and more volatile portions of petroleum, the residue be ing purified so that the remaining substance is substantially colorless, oily, transparent, without odor or taste, and does not congeal and form a paste or waxy material when exposed. The substance is insoluble in water and will not evaporate readily, in fact will show no immediate appreciable loss or evaporation when exposed to normal temperature or temperatures approximating the boiling point of water. Liquid petrolatum has the property of quick penetration, and in that particular owing to its maintained liquidity, when the same is applied to the shell of an egg the material will enter the pores and the shell material and there remain without change. By this material, as far "as I now know from experiments and extensive tests, the pores are not entirely or completely closed, as would be the case with a waxy material, such as paraffin or paraffin oil. This I believe is important from a scientific standpoint inasmuch as by the partial sealing of the pores, objectionable or destructive bacteria are prevented from entering through the pores, while the molecules of ozone are permitted to enter through the shell. It is known that ozone is somewhat of a preservative in this connection and therefore desirable to have enter the shell to prevent fermentation or change of the shell contents.

By permitting ozone to enter, while preventing bacteria from entering through the shell, the destructive action of any bacteria, which may be contained in the shell is modified or checked. However, it has been found that when this liquid petrolatum is conditions withoutdeteriorating for manyjurious to the human system, and being an oil, is moisture repellent.

Eggs treated with liquid petrolatum,

either at a normal temperature, or at a highly heated temperature possess general characteristics which will preserve the egg and render the shell moisturdrepellent and germ proof. It does not impair theegg in any material respect, the moisture of the contents of theegg being prevented from escaping through the oil'treated shell. Eggs treated either under heated condition 'or otherwise with liquid petrolatum can be placed in cold storage and there kept for many months, thereafter removed and allowed to remain under normal temperature weeks." This is an advantage as it is now known that untreated eggs when taken from storage deteriorate Within a very few days.

The material liquid petrolatum or its equivalent I have found represents a very satisfactory and successful artificial bloom, the natural bloom being recognized as an important preservative for the egg for a very short duration of time. In this particular it may also be observed that the material being of an oilycharacter gives a luster or bloomy appearance to the shell which resembles thenatural egg which is maintained until the egg is used.

In carrying out the method, the eggs in quantities if desirable, may be placed in a wire basket or other reticulated carrier, immersed in a bath of liquid petrolatum. Conveniently the liquid may be heated to 'a temperature from 210 to 225 degrees more or less with a view of destroying by the heat, the living destructive bacteria, while at the same time applying the preservative to the shell. The eggs are allowed to stand in the bath for a short period of time which will differ according to the temperature of the liquid. Under the above high temperatures it has. been ascertained that five seconds is ample time. A longer eriod by a few seconds may be required f dr treating the eggs at a lower temperature of the liquid. The eggs are removed from the bath after treatment and placed on any convenient form of drain table and the surplus. liquid permittedtopass from the shell. In this condition the eggs are ready for storage or the market.

While I have found liquid petrolatum is very successful for the purposes specified, I wish it understood that other light oils, if possessing the same or general characteristics of liquid petrolatum', may be employed without departing from the invention, and I do not wish my patent protection to be limited-to the specific material. I believe however, I am the first to ever discover that by treating an egg with a substance having :liquid oil substantially odorless, substantially colorless non-volatile and. non drying.

2. The method of preserving eggs consisting in introducing the egg into a body of heated liquid petrolatum.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL FRANK HENDERSON. Witnesses: Y

F. M. RUPPERT, F. E. Goonwm. 

